Oshkosh Early Learning

November 2019: Issue #3
 

Important Upcoming Dates

Social and Emotional Tidbits

Creating an Attitude of Gratitude

This holiday season is about being grateful, giving, and connection with those you love. When you turn on the TV, flip through a store ad, walk through the store, etc. it is often difficult to keep sight of. This is even more true for young children who are naturally egocentric little beings - and it is developmentally appropriate for them to be that way. It is our job to teach and model for young children empathy, kindness, compassion, helpfulness, and so on. If you are like most parents (including me!) this is no easy task! Do you sometimes struggle with helping your child learn that the world does not revolve around them? Below are some helpful hints for helping to instill an attitude of gratitude in your little one this holiday season through being of service to others.

Did you know being of service is not an option? Research shows being of service is a biological imperative that is required for optimal brain development. Every kind act, every contribution we make reanimates our own life force (Creating the School Family, Dr. Becky Bailey, p.224).

Children can be of service in so many ways during the holiday season. Share with them that you know they are great helpers and involve them in helping you think of ways to be helpful during the holidays. You will be amazed at how involving them in the brainstorming process will help give them some ownership over being helpful - I bet you will even be blown away by some of their suggestions! Remember, for children to feel successful in finding things that they can do independently will be important. Here are a few ideas (we can’t wait to hear what you and your child come up with as well!):

• Leave kindness notes for family, friends, and neighbors. Have your child notice how others are being helpful in the world and draw them a picture/write a little “thank you” note for being so helpful! Example (note to sister): Marissa you picked up my socks and put them in the hamper. Thanks! That was helpful. (Child can draw a picture to tell the story of this message as well).

• Be of service to the family by helping out around the house. Even young children can be helpful with completing daily household chores. Taking out the garbage from the bathroom, unloading the dishwasher, drying dishes, wiping dirty windows or the kitchen table/counters, picking up toys around the house, taking laundry out of the dryer and putting it in a hamper, and bringing folded laundry up to their bedroom and putting it away are all examples of chores that young children can help with. Providing positive feedback along the way and sharing what an impact that has on the time you have to spend with your child can be incredibly encouraging and models for them the importance of gratitude and being of service. Example: Johnny, you brought your laundry upstairs and put it in your dresser. That was so helpful! Now we have time to read an extra book together tonight before bed. 

• Random acts of kindness are things that young children are quite good at coming up with! After all, they are the givers of finger painted masterpieces (often at nauseum) and beautiful dandelion bouquets and mud pies. During a stressful holiday season there is no shortage of people in your child’s life who could use a little smile. Involve your child in brainstorming who could use a fun surprise and using what they know about that person to come up with a good idea for what the surprise could be. It is important not to judge your child’s suggestions but steer them towards using what they know about people (children are sponges and excellent observers) to come up with their idea. At the end of the day, knowing that someone took the time to think of you is what will matter most to whoever your child has chosen. :) Examples: Bring your teacher a cup of coffee/tea or a bottle of hand sanitizer during this cold/flu season when everyone is sick. OR Make dad a small bowl out of clay to keep his keys in when he gets home so he can find them right away in the morning when he needs them. OR Donate some gently used or new toys to a shelter, hospital, etc. for children who may not be getting presents this holiday season.

Most importantly: Share with your child when you see them being helpful and kind. Noticing and appreciating this within your child sends a message that you value kindness and helpfulness and models how to be grateful towards others.

Power of Play

“Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain -- unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10 and 20 repetition!

- Dr. Karyn Purvis

During our October Play to Learn family event each 4K family was provided a copy of Worm Weather by Jean Taft. This book celebrates the playfulness of children and how they see the world. We often forget how powerful their play can be. We’ve had a wet and interesting fall so far. The next time it rains, make a connection back to Worm Weather. 

A Few Connection Ideas

• How many worms can they find? Encourage children to count each one as they go. They can use their fingers to help them keep track! 

• Make worms out of playdough. Can they make as many playdough worms as they found outside? How many was that? 

  • Can they find the number of worms they made or found on a deck of playing cards? 

• People make books and your child can too! We are learning how to be authors and illustrators in our 4K classrooms. All you need is some paper and a crayon, pencil, crayon, or marker. 

  • Can your child make a book about their hunt for worms? 

    • How might they draw their worms? Worms kind of look like squiggly lines. 

    • Are there any letters or numbers they want to add to their book to help readers read it? 

    • How could they use Worm Weather to help them as authors and illustrators? 

Stay tuned for more ideas next month!

Math Corner Through Play

We know that children learn best in playful situations. Math skills and play can easily go hand in hand. This month we are focusing on early number sense through games you can play right at home! 

Matching numbers with sets of objects helps your child develop a sense of a number. For example, knowing that the word three means a collection of three objects may seem very simple to us, but is something our young learners must learn through playful experiences and practice. 

There are a variety of games that use dice, spinners, or cards. These games will give practice with counting, comparing, and reading numbers. Playing dominoes is another fun math material you and your child can play with! These store-bought games not only work on math skills, but help your child learn more about games with rules, turn-taking, and patience.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions 

In the Oshkosh Area School District, we are dedicated to providing the best educational program possible for our children. Should something occur that you have a question about or are unhappy with, please give your child's teacher a call first and then your child's principal so that they can work together with you to address your need. Beth Schendel can be reached at 424-1004.  If you have a concern that you have been unable to resolve with a staff member or the principal, you may call the district office at 424-0395 and they will help you address your concern and/or connect you with others who can help.